How far?

I volunteer at a local prison and I have had the miraculous opportunity to visit a young 21 year old who is doing LIFE in max. security for murder. There were many things that led up to this visit, and it took 10 months for everything to come together...The lesson I was to learn came with one statement the Lord etched on my heart as I struggled with my own heart as to why I was supposed to bring the message of the Gospel to this young man. And it is this; "You will not know the depth of My love until you understand what I am willing to forgive.." Selah...

Mind Full

Be Positive “It shall be done for you as you have believed”…. Matthew 8:13 Choose Right Thinking “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 NKJV Change Your Mind “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he…Proverbs 23:7 Think on these things “For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your mind on them).” Philippians 4:8 Renew Your Mind “Do not conform and longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NKJV Focus on the Lord “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You”…. Isaiah 26:3 Walk in the Power of the Spirit “For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the Holy Spirit.” Romans 8:5

Vanquished dread

C.S. Lewis writes: "Not that I am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him."

 In my recent experiences with the death and illnesses of friends and family, I experienced my own brush with death and open heart surgery in Feb. of ’09.

 I didn't know where to “put” God, if putting Him in the middle of it meant He was putting His signature on the suffering that had come into my life.

I underwent nine hours of surgery, while heart and lung machines were keeping me alive. Closely monitored for nine days more, I lay in ICU, feeling put back together like a Raggedy Ann doll. I had so many painful places where tubes were running through my body. And by my bedside, noisy monitors were detecting signs of life.

I can't "talk to Him", I muttered to myself. Where dread had filled my soul, no prayer could be uttered. My husband came in and set my IPod up in the room.  My favorite songs and hymns filled the air. Then the voice of Him who loves me most, broke through my fearful heart, as if He were singing to me, sitting with me there in the dark recesses of my soul, where dread disabled.

He gave me songs of faith to utter, when I had no strength or will do it. And my heart has its reasons to live, and the faith that seemed buried, declared itself to me.....Yes, I hope in God.....He is mine and I am His!  I Will Rise.

Head in the sand?

deep down we know what it takes.... I've been pulling my head out of the sand recently...facing my own resistance and shallow excuses for the things I've been unwilling to change...after heart surgery...things seems so much clearer....and His gift of life less easy to squander...

He lifts the Veil

What we do defines who we are more than convincing and passionate words that betray and contradict. A subtle veil of justifications we'll lay over our faces when we don't really believe that God can love us out of our ugliness.